Letters from the Issue of March 22, 2007

These guys have nothing to lose: Regarding Isaiah Thompson's "Swept Under the Bridge" (March 8): This is nothing short of horrifying from humanitarian, correctional, and public safety perspectives. These are not people who easily garner our sympathy; they have sexually abused children and deserved their jail time. Many people would say that they are now getting what they deserve. However public safety is not served when offenders have nothing to lose. Why not give in to those pesky thoughts of sick sexual gratification? Given their sex offender status, they are unable to find jobs, and state and local residency restrictions make it impossible for them to secure even temporary shelter housing. They are receiving no treatment or other services to reintegrate them into the community. We give them nothing and make it impossible for them to function. All research shows that all offenders do much better when they have stable jobs, housing, and support. These men have been deprived of all of that.

Yes, sex offenders deserve punishment appropriate to their crimes. Once they are released, they need opportunities to succeed  not setups for failure. Remember that their failure could be a new sex offense. Why not? They have nothing left to lose.

Comment by "rukidding"

Via the Internet

Get lost: This is a fantastic article (Isaiah Thompson's "Swept Under the Bridge," March 8) on a very troubling issue. I would like to see some followup in a few months. Specifically, where can sex offenders live in Miami-Dade?

Telling sex offenders where not to live without giving them options of where to live essentially encourages them to literally get lost. Once out of the supervision of the criminal justice system, offenders are left to their own devices and instincts. Considering that their instincts have proven problematic in the past, it's obvious that the system is setting up these individuals to fail.

Comment by "Sara"

Via the Internet

Wearing His Genes

But his music transcends race, right?: Regarding Tamara Lush's "A Sort of Homecoming" (March 8): That Mexicans should think Lashy is African American until he begins to speak is understandable, although incorrect given that he is not a black American. It is also reasonable for white Americans to think he is black, because he is. Lashy is a black Cuban and, by extension, a black Latino. You don't leave your genes at the door because of culture.

Omar Godoy

Los Angeles, California

Manly Men

And the boys who love them: I loved Nathan Lee's witty, clear-eyed review of 300, "Man on Man Action" (March 8), and its paradoxical homophobic-homoerotic violence. I read elsewhere that 300 is by far the most successful movie of spring break's top ten, outselling the next nine movies combined.

I wonder what this says about the current psychology of young American males?

Alexander Sharkey

Miami Beach

Save it for the little screen: Just dropping you a note to tell you I thoroughly enjoyed your review of 300, "Man on Man Action" (March 8). I cut my teeth on TheIliad and The Odyssey and Greek mythology when other kids were reading Highlights magazine. I was looking forward to this unusual retelling of the battle of Thermopylae, but now I'm a bit more reluctant to shell out this not-so-trivial amount of cash to see it.

Good writing. I look forward to more.

Charles Long

Via the Internet

Green with Sadness

Nature's not the same: The article written by Rob Jordan ("Green Tide," March 1) regarding the mysterious plant, or animal, which is invading the waters of Florida Bay has touched me very deeply. Since 1973, when my husband and I discovered the paradise on earth that was the Florida Keys area, especially Key Largo, we have being enjoying nature. Last year we noticed that the water wasn't as clear as it used to be. It was dark green, we could hardly spot any fish, and the smell around the place was a little rotten. We believed it had to do with the very active hurricane season we had during 2005, or that the construction of the highway had something to do with it. Now we understand that this situation, this green tide, is not going to disappear soon. The red tide on Florida's west coast is a phenomenon that happens once in a while, but doesn't last forever. It seems that the green tide in our paradise is here to stay, and we feel very sad about that.

Elsa M. Rodríguez

Hialeah

Surprisingly Unsurprising

Don't be such haters: Regarding Brandon K. Thorp's "Genocide is Boring" (March 1): I didn't know that Japanese people could pronounce and roll their R's so well? Hmm.

That's just the first point in many about why no one bothers using New Times reviews as anything substantial.

Some plays deserve to be ripped in a review. But it's to be expected from New Times, which makes people wonder how right you could possibly be. When everyone else has a different opinion, how good can this opinion be?

It's always a good place to find something that's entertaining to read. A good laugh. Thanks for the laugh!

Joseph M. NeSmith

Miami

Good Work

Now read ours: I very much enjoyed your fair and very well-written article, "The G-man and the Snitch," by Tamara Lush (February 8). I hope you'll have an opportunity to read the last appendix of our book, The Fix: the Corruption of Massachusetts Courts & Agencies, by Anna Bell Lee and me. It details our belief that John Connolly was railroaded. Thanks again.

Bill Connolly

Newton, Massachusetts

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